At the start of 2021, Henry Ochieng became a major talking point in Kenyan football dialogue.

Ochieng, a relatively unknown midfielder who rose through the ranks of the English league system from a young age, grabbed national attention after joining Watford, a newly promoted side.

With only a few Kenyans having achieved the feat of featuring in England’s Premier League, Ochieng’s conspicuous name lit up the prospect of another start, following in the footsteps of Harambee Stars icon Victor Wanyama.

People Daily Digital highlights the former Kenya U23’s whirlwind career from the cusp of the coveted English Premier League promise and back to the lower-tier football.

Born in Ilford, UK, to Kenyan parents, Ochieng’s talents caught the eye of football scouts at just nine years old.

Ochieng’s story began in a London park, kicking a ball around with his dad. A chance moment took him to Buckhurst Hill’s youth side, and when he came off the bench, he stunned everyone by scoring eight goals in a single game.

That wonder-kid performance won him Best Player of the Year and caught the eye of West Ham United’s Academy. He linked up with London’s club youth team in 2009.

In 2015, he secured a scholarship with Leyton Orient, making his debut in November 2016. After over a dozen appearances, he was released in March 2018.

His next big move took him across the United Kingdom, with a stint in Ireland, this time joining Cork City in 2020.

Watford stint

His budding career took a massive leap when he joined England’s Watford in January 2021.

 His move set the country buzzing, as the club had just earned automatic promotion from the Championship, assuring the first Kenyan to play in the top-tier league after Wanyama.

 He was only featured for the club’s U23s for a time that failed to live up to expectations and only lasted for five months before parting ways in May.

Backed with lessons and experience from the English Professional Development League, he joined English side Hemel Hempstead Town, a fifth-tier side.

Harambee Stars

For Harambee Stars, he made his debut for the Kenya U23 team against Mauritius in November 2018 in the 2019 Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualification.

He is now in the books of Slough City, a team he joined in 2024, and is showing promise and eager to make up for the lost time with the same promise that his career took off with. At Slough, Ochieng has been handed the captain’s armband.

Also Read: 5 Harambee Stars prospects whose careers have gone under the radar

Under Ochieng’s leadership, who remains eligible for the Kenya national team, Slough Town started their league on August 9, 2025.

The team is placed ninth in the 24-team standings after playing nine games.

 After nine games, the team has won twice, drawn three times and tasted defeat four times.